Device for coupling metal ties



W. G. TURNER.

DEVICE FOR COUPLING METAL TIES.

APPLICATLON HLED1UNEh19I8.

Patented Mar. 2, 1920.

WILLIAM GRUBB TURNER, OF MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE.

DEVICE FOR COUPLING METAL TIES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar.2, 1920.

Application filed June 1, 1918. Serial No. 237,734.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, VILLIAM GRUBB Tunnnn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Memphis, Shelby county, and State of Tennessee, have invented and discovered certain new and useful Improvements in Devices for Coupling Metal Ties, of which the following is a specification.

In the operation of securing metal bands or ties around bales of cotton it is desirable to draw said bands as tightly as possible around the compressed bale and secure them while taut before the compress is open.

My present invention relates to the construction of a device or machine for accomplishing this object in a rapid, convenient and expeditious manner all of which will be hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

Referring to the accompanying drawings which are made a part hereof, and on which similar reference characters indicate similar parts.

Figure 1 represents a portion of the front side of a compress showing my machine in position for use thereon,

Fig. 2, an edge view thereof,

Fig. 3, a top or plan view of a portion of Fig. 1, and

Figs. 4, 5 and 6, detailed views showing the lapped ends of the bale ties in the differ ent positions they occupy during the process of being coupled or secured together.

In said drawings the portions marked A represent the upper jaw of the compress, B the lower jaw, C one end of the bale tie, and D the other end.

The upper jaw A carries the upper platen and the lower jaw B carries the lower platen. Said platens are provided with transverse channels in which are preferably mounted elastic filler strips 10 as more fully described in my co-pending application.

At each end of the jaw A is secured a bracket 11 having a horizontally projecting arm 12 on which is slidably mounted a sleeve 13 having a hanger 14 and on the lower end of which is formed another sleeve 15. A horizontal track or carrier rod 16 is supported in said sleeves 15 on the lower end of said hangers 14, being secured by screws 47 or in any appropriate manner. The twisting machines proper are mounted on said rod 16 and consist of a frame 17, the base of which is perforated and mounted on said rod 16 by means of a bolt 18 projecting through said frame and its inner end engaging in a wide groove 19 extending longitudinally of rod 16 and being of a width approximately of of the circumference of said rod which permits the rockin of frame 17 on said rod 16.

*ach base or frame 17 extends forward toward the bale of cotton and is bifurcated, or formed with side arms 20, in which is journaled a shaft 21 carrying pinions 22, one near each end and a ratchet wheel 23 on one end which engages with an operating ratchet 24 of ordinary construction. Other shafts 25 are journaled near the extreme forward ends of said arms 20 and have small pinions 26 which mesh with the large pinions 22 and the inner adjacent ends of said shafts 25, carrying the jaws 27 slotted to engage the ends of the buckle 28.

Said machines are located at intervals in the front of the compress as indicated in Fig. .1.

As a rule four men work on the front side of the compress in repressing cotton, each man manipulating two of the ties. A convenient arrangement is to have one machine for each man so that the work may progress rapidly and conveniently, although it is possible to do the work quite rapidly with only one machine, sliding the same from band to band as each twist is made, each twist requiring but a moment of time.

In operation the ends C and D of the tie are lapped over each other as indicated in Fig. 4, the buckle member 28 and the clamping member 80 being put in position before the twist is made. The ties being in the position shown in Fig. 4 the twisting machine is brought to position and the end of the frame carrying the jaws 27 adjusted by a proper swinging upon the rod 16, permit-' ted by the width of the key-way or groove 19, to engage the ends of the buckle 28, said buckle being adjusted to the proper point on the lapped ends of the tie. By manipulating the pawl 24, the shaft 21 is turned and through the gear connections the jaws 27 are turned to make a twist, or to double over the lapped ends C and D of the tie. As a rule but one lap is made as indicated in Figs. 5 and 6 but more than one lap may be made if desired. The clamping member 80 is slid down over the double or twisted ends of the tie, the notches 31 in the sidesthereof passing over the ends of the buckle to hold the joint from expanding under its resiliency when the machine is released from the ends of said buckle. The end of the machine is then lifted up and tilted back out of the way which operation is permitted by said slot 19.

The several bands being thus secured 01' coupled together the bale is released and the operation repeated.

By reason of the adjustability of the sleeves 13 on the horizontal supports 12 the machine may be adjusted in and out and toward and from the edge of the bale to bring it to the desired position respecting any particular sized bale. In practice the edge of some bales will be in a different position in the compress from the edge of other bales and this adjustability is therefore desirable. The adjust-ability of the machines is thus practically universal it being possible to slide them back and forth upon the rod 19 and to slide the frame carrying the machines in and out, toward and from the bales, as may be required by the position of the bale in the compress.

Having thus fully described my said invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A device for coupling together the ends of metal bands or ties comprising a frame, rotary jaws mounted in said frame adapted to engage the ends of a buckle which embraces the lapped ends of'the bands or ties, means for rotating said jaws, and means for adjusting said rotating means from position to position throughout the length of said frame, substantially as set forth.

.2. Means for doubling and twisting the lapped ends of metal bands or ties embraced within a buckle comprising a frame, rotary jaws mounted in said frame and adapted to engage the ends of said buckle, means for rotating said jaws, and a support on which said frame is mounted to slide, substantially as set forth.

3. Means for coupling the ends of lapped bands or ties embraced by a buckle comprising a frame mounted to slide and rock on a support, jaws mounted in said frame adapted to rotate and engage the ends of said buckle, and means for rotating said jaws, substantially as set forth.

4. A device for coupling the ends of metal bands or ties embraced by a buckle, compris ing a frame mounted to move in and out, toward and from the bale and carrying a supporting bar, the frame of the device mounted to slide and rock on said bar, twisting jaws mounted on said frame, and means for operating said twisting jaws, substantial-lyv as set forth.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal at Washington, District of Columbia, this twenty-third day of May, A. D. nineteen hundred and eighteen.

WILLIAM GRUBB TURNER. [L. 5-] l/Vitnesses:

E. W. BRADFORD, CHAS. E. Rronnon. 

